ARTICLES ABOUT CARLOS ARROYO BY DATE - PAGE 3

On a day Miami Heat players embraced the impending arrival of Mike Bibby, the team cast aside former starting point guard Carlos Arroyo and lost out in the bidding for free-agent power forward Troy Murphy. At a time of the season when most teams are moving forward with established rosters, the Heat find themselves in somewhat of a whirlwind, at the NBA's deadline for playoff eligibility. By receiving buyouts in advance of Tuesday's 11:59 p.m. deadline, with Bibby waived by the Washington Wizards and Murphy released by the Golden State Warriors, each became available in time to bolster playoff rosters.

On a day the Miami Heat upgraded their rotation at point guard, there was a somewhat downcast mood following Tuesday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. For as much as players embraced the impending arrival of playoff-tested point guard Mike Bibby, the cost of that move, the release of former starting point guard Carlos Arroyo, resonated throughout the roster. "Any time you lose a teammate, it's always hard, especially someone who you get to know, you get to be around someone for a couple of years.

The approach speaks volumes. When games are in the balance, Mario Chalmers has been reduced to spectator for the Miami Heat. The standings offer a counterargument. The Heat are 10-2 with Chalmers in the starting lineup this season, including 8-1 with the current starting lineup, Sunday's 85-82 loss to the Boston Celtics the lone blemish. Further muddling the debate is this is a player who coach Erik Spoelstra said has given the team his best minutes this season as a reserve.

With 9:46 to play in the third quarter, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra apparently had seen enough. Mario Chalmers' day was over. Despite starting at point guard, Chalmers played just 12 minutes, 55 seconds in Sunday's 85-82 loss to the Boston Celtics, as the Heat went mostly with three wing players, with Mike Miller entering for Chalmers. "Just tried to change something," Spoelstra said. "But, as you know, things will change game to game. So that's not necessarily how we'll go on Tuesday.

Heat point guard Carlos Arroyo joined us on Tuesday for the Carlos Arroyo Show. The subject quickly turned to how he has handled his significant dropoff in playing time. Carlos, I want to ask you, you haven't been playing. How tough has it been and what has it been like? I know you've been through it before. Does this one get a little more difficult because you were playing well before you were put on the bench? "You know, it's a decision I have to respect. It's the coach's decision.

Mike Miller remained neutral on this one, even as he proudly wears his University of Florida colors. Yes, the reserve swingman would have welcomed former Gators teammate Jason Williams as a Miami Heat teammate. But he also appreciated how delicate team chemistry can be at this stage of the season, especially with Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo already receiving limited minutes at point guard. Williams, disappointed that he was not receiving playing time, was released last week by the Orlando Magic, who face the Heat on Thursday night at 8 p.m. in a nationally televised game at the Amway Center.

If they weren't winning, things would have been different. Miami Heat guard Eddie House can say that with confidence. If the Heat were losing during his absence from the rotation, others would have known. Count on that. House has never shied from speaking his mind, but says there was no reason to fuss about playing time with the team going 15-1 in December. Now back in the rotation, House says staying calm during that stretch was the reason he's once again a key member of the Heat.

Heat point guard Carlos Arroyo hasn't been himself when speaking with reporters about his recent demotion. The normally cordial Arroyo had given short answers when asked about his decline in playing time, but that changed Wednesday. He spoke somewhat more openly about now being the backup to starter Mario Chalmers. He said he met with coach Erik Spoelstra about the move, but refused to disclose details. "Whatever myself and coach talked, that's between us," Arroyo said. "It's something that I truly respect and hopefully you guys [media]

Back in the Miami Heat starting lineup for the first time since the early stages of last season, Mario Chalmers said he no longer is taking such a role for granted. The third-year point guard lost the role to Carlos Arroyo and Rafer Alston last season, and then to Arroyo at the start of this season. "I think in the beginning I came in, I worked hard for it, and then I got relaxed and then I had to work hard for it again," he said of his uneven first three NBA seasons. "I don't want to relax this time.

Heat forward Chris Bosh is doubtful for Thursday's game against the New York Knicks. Bosh hasn't practice since sustaining a high ankle sprain against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 15 and is expected to miss his third consecutive game. "He's making progress. … I know he's doing more than he was doing the other day," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "When I was walking by his session the other day I saw him start to run on the treadmill. I learned later that was too much for him, too much pain.